Port Angeles Farmers Market’s Sales Increasing
When the Farmers Market was driven out of downtown Port Angeles in 2005, their sales dropped. From 2004 to 2006 their revenues fell from $186,652 to $163,825. But in 2008 they grossed $228,248.
To paraphrase that German expression, that which couldn’t destroy them made them stronger. (This story was in today’s PDN but not on their website.)
Michele d’Hemecourt (manager of the farmers market) and Jane Vanderhoof are determined to make the market grow even stronger during 2009. Jane Vanderhoof — along with her husband Peter — runs Westwind Farm near Joyce. And Jane has just been elected to the Washington Farmers Market Association Board of Directors.
It’s becoming more popular to buy organic produce, and to buy locally in general. Jackie Aitchison, director of the Washington Farmers Market Association, said: “People want to know where their food’s coming from, and they want to keep their dollars local.”
Westwind Farm and Nash’s Organic Produce — two of the market’s longtime vendors — both reported that their sales went up by about a third from 2007 to 2008. Another regular vendor, “Tuna Dan” Dinwoodie, said his sales have gone up about 25% in the past year and a half.
The Washington Farmers Market Association — with more than a hundred members — increased their sales last year by 20 to 30%.
The Port Angeles Farmers Market has a smaller turnout at this time of year. Michele d’Hemecourt said: “Our market could be more of an event every weekend. We can make it something that people come to just for the experience.”
The Port Angeles Farmers Market is at the Clallam County Courthouse parking lot every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hopefully this summer they’ll return to the downtown parking lot (First and Laurel, next to The Toggery) on Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information about the Port Angeles Farmers Market, check out their website.
To paraphrase that German expression, that which couldn’t destroy them made them stronger. (This story was in today’s PDN but not on their website.)
Michele d’Hemecourt (manager of the farmers market) and Jane Vanderhoof are determined to make the market grow even stronger during 2009. Jane Vanderhoof — along with her husband Peter — runs Westwind Farm near Joyce. And Jane has just been elected to the Washington Farmers Market Association Board of Directors.
It’s becoming more popular to buy organic produce, and to buy locally in general. Jackie Aitchison, director of the Washington Farmers Market Association, said: “People want to know where their food’s coming from, and they want to keep their dollars local.”
Westwind Farm and Nash’s Organic Produce — two of the market’s longtime vendors — both reported that their sales went up by about a third from 2007 to 2008. Another regular vendor, “Tuna Dan” Dinwoodie, said his sales have gone up about 25% in the past year and a half.
The Washington Farmers Market Association — with more than a hundred members — increased their sales last year by 20 to 30%.
The Port Angeles Farmers Market has a smaller turnout at this time of year. Michele d’Hemecourt said: “Our market could be more of an event every weekend. We can make it something that people come to just for the experience.”
The Port Angeles Farmers Market is at the Clallam County Courthouse parking lot every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hopefully this summer they’ll return to the downtown parking lot (First and Laurel, next to The Toggery) on Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information about the Port Angeles Farmers Market, check out their website.
Labels: “Tuna Dan” Dinwoodie, Jackie Aitchison, Jane Vanderhoof, Michele d’Hemecourt, Nash’s Organic Produce, Peter Vanderhoof, Washington Farmers Market Association, Westwind Farm
posted by Tom Harper at 7:08 PM
10 Comments:
That would be a drag if the market didn't come back downtown this summer. Those Wednesday evenings, farmers market and then the concert on the pier, are really great.
I love the music on the pier, when I had my 32 foot boat I would take it over there and enjoy the music on the comfort of my boat.
Oh, yeah, we love the Market and the Concert on Wednesday nights in the summer. I look forward to that all winter!
To paraphrase that German expression, that which couldn’t destroy them made them stronger.
"That which does not kill me, makes me stronger." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight Of the Idols, 1888.
Certainly true in this case!
Uh oh, the farmers market shouldn't have admitted that their sales are up. Now the local sultans will evict them again, even further away this time. Watch for the market at their new location - the median strip on Rt. 101 east of Port Angeles.
That's good news that the market is still making money in spite of the recession. I was afraid local and organic food vendors would get ruined by the tanking economy.
Mike... When I was at Sunny Farms recently they were as busy as hell. Don't worry about them, local farmers and gardeners are our best source of food if things get really bad. And the food is a lot better also.
I hope we'll be getting those Wednesday concerts on the pier again this summer. I don't know if they're funded privately or by the city. If it's coming out of city tax money, it could go the way of the pool so the city will have enough money for Gateway and Rayonier.
I think they are funded by the businesses, but I could be wrong.
And a few of those bands do it without pay just to help out, or for the recognition.
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